South Dakota
has some of the best pheasant hunting in the country.
Sportsmen from all over the world flock to South Dakota during the annual pheasant hunting season. The colorful, long-tailed game birds are found in abundance on the South Dakota prairie. Most years, more than 1 million rooster pheasants are shot by hunters during the season.
Seasons
The general pheasant hunting season in South Dakota begins on the third Saturday of every October. It continues through the first weekend of January. Toward the beginning of October, a five-day youth hunting season is open for young hunters ages 12 to 17 who have a small game license and a HuntSAFE certificate. A South Dakota resident-only pheasant hunting season runs for three days, normally scheduled between the general hunting season and the youth season.
Bird Limits
A hunter in the general hunting season can shoot only three rooster pheasants per day and have a maximum of 15 rooster pheasants in his or her possession. In the youth hunt, participants must be accompanied by an unarmed adult. The young hunter can shoot three rooster pheasants per day and have a maximum of 15 rooster pheasants in his or her possession. For the South Dakota resident-only hunt, participants can shoot up to three rooster pheasants and possess up to nine. Hunters should not shoot pheasant hens.
Restricted Areas
Pheasant hunters cannot wander into any field or pasture and start shooting the birds. Restrictions as to where hunting is allowed are put in place each season. Hunting is not allowed on wildlife refuges during the general hunting season except during designated times. Hunters should ask landowners permission before hunting on private land. The youth season is also open throughout South Dakota, including all public and private lands. This includes the Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in Bennett County. During the resident-only season, hunters can shoot on all public lands, including recreation areas, the U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands and state school lands.
Ideal Locations
The most abundant pheasant hunting in South Dakota is located on the east side of the Missouri River, which runs through the center of the state. A majority of the counties in eastern South Dakota generally have 100 to more than 200 pheasants per square mile. Unfortunately, the greater the bird count, the more hunters per square mile as well. The western side of the state usually carries the least amount of pheasants and hunters per square mile.
Pheasant Facts
The Chinese ring-necked pheasant was brought to South Dakota from China in the 1800s. The females are usually brown or gray and are similar looking to grouse, another popular game bird in South Dakota. The males, however, are the eye-catchers. Far more colorful than the females, they have long, golden tail feathers, red skin around the eyes and a green shimmer to their golden feathers. Pheasants prefers the grasslands, where they hide and nest in the tall grass. The bird thrives in the midwestern states, making it rare in other parts of the United States. Its meat is considered a delicacy.
Related posts
Male green pheasants are easily identified by their colorful plumage.Green pheasants are indigenous to Japan and are also the country's official national bird. Other common names for the pheasant...
Pheasants are one of the most sought after upland game bird species.Pheasants are an upland bird species that live in grasslands and are the target of hunters every fall during the pheasant season...
Male ring-necked pheasants are larger and more colorful than females.The scientific name for the ring-necked pheasant is Phasianus colchicus. It is also known as the common pheasant. The species i...
Ring Necked Pheasant FactsThe ring-necked pheasant, a popular game bird with hunters and the state bird of South Dakota, is an introduced species, coming over from Asia. The bird eats seeds, grain...
Pheasants are relatively easy birds to care for. They are a good choice if you are just beginning to raise game birds. There are several things to consider when caring for adult pheasants, but if...
